FADE IN:
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
DARRYL MARSHALL, a slim, fit, 21-year-old black man, stares somberly at a headstone. He’s wearing a suit. There’s a sad look on his face but he’s standing strong.
BEGIN FLASHBACK
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - DAY
SHANEL MARSHALL, a thin, attractive black woman, lines cocaine with a razor blade.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
My mother was a cokehead when she was 17 years old.
She snorts a line.
NARRATOR (V.O.)(cont’d)
And then she had kids.
INT. DELIVERY ROOM - DAY
A DOCTOR delivers Shanel’s child, LEO. FATHER #1, a teenager, observes.
INT. DELIVERY ROOM - ONE YEAR LATER
A DOCTOR delivers Shanel’s second child, LAQUITA. FATHER #2, early 20s, stands nearby.
INT. HOSPITAL - TWO YEARS LATER
In bed, Shanel holds twin infants, RENE and STACEY. Father #3, TONY, looks on proudly.
INT. HOSPITAL - ONE YEAR LATER
Shanel holds her screaming newborn DARRYL. The SIBLINGS are in the room, making faces at the baby. No father.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
I was the fifth.
INT. HOSPITAL - TWO YEARS LATER
Shanel holds infant VANESSA as the CHILDREN run wild in the room. DARRYL, 2, jumps on the bed.
SHANEL
Darryl, get down!
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - DAY
In a small apartment with an adjoining kitchen and living room, Shanel works the stove. DARRYL, 5, watches Sesame Street - a Cookie Monster bit. LAQUITA, 8, braids STACEY’s hair, while RENE, 7, plays with VANESSA, 3.
LEO, 9, hops on the sofa and changes the channel to football.
DARRYL
I wanna watch Cookie Monster!
LEO
No, Darryl, the Skins on. We’ll watch Cookie Monster later.
DARRYL
(jumping on the sofa)
“Me want cookie!”
LEO
Quit being a baby. We’ll watch it during the commercial.
SHANEL
(sticking her head in the room)
Darryl! Quit jumping. Laquita, get in here and help me set the table, please.
LAQUITA
Why I always gotta do that?
DARRYL
Cookie!
LEO
No, Darryl!
SHANEL
Cause I asked nicely and I’m your mother. And I’ma stick you in the corner if you don’t.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Those were the best years of my life. Mom was clean, we all still lived together...
Still jumping around, Darryl accidently knocks a ceramic table lamp to the floor. It shatters.
SHANEL (cont’d)
(turning from the kitchen)
What happened?
In unison, the kids point at Darryl, just as Darryl points at Vanessa. Seeing all the fingers on him, Darryl suddenly starts wailing and runs down the hall to his room.
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - EVENING
The kids sit around the table, which is set with dishes. Shanel sets down a platter of chicken. Vegetables are cooking in oil on the stove.
Darryl grabs a biscuit and mimics the noises that Cookie Monster makes while eating a cookie, crumbling pieces all over the place.
DARRYL
MMMMM... Cookie!
SHANEL
Darryl! I told you twice already not to eat like the Cookie Monster.
Someone pounds on the front door.
MARCUS (O.S.)
Open up, Shanel!
SHANEL
(grabbing the phone)
I told you to stay away from here, Marcus! I’m calling the police!
MARCUS (O.S.)
Shanel, open the door, shit! I ain’t playin’!
Shanel dials as the pounding continues.
OPERATOR (O.S.)
(filtered)
911 emergency.
SHANEL
My ex is trying to break in here! I got a restraining order against him!
Marcus bursts through the door. Leo grabs a fork and goes after him. Darryl looks on, learning.
SHANEL (cont’d)
Leo!
LEO
Don’t you be coming here no more!
Leo lunges at Marcus with a fork, but Marcus viciously pushes him to the ground.
MARCUS
Get outta my way! Shanel, you god damn bitch! I ain’t seen my kids in a month! You act like you ain’t been getting the cash I been sending you!
Dropping the phone on the floor, Shanel grabs a knife and positions herself in front of her kids.
SHANEL
Get your sorry ass outta here!
MARCUS
Hang up the phone!
SHANEL
Leo!
From behind, Leo lunges at Marcus with the fork again. Marcus spins around in time and catches his arm, then pushes him aside.
SHANEL
Don’t you touch him!
MARCUS
You a god damn bitch!
Shanel brandishes the knife as Marcus steps forward. Suddenly, he screams and rubs his eyes as hot oil and vegetables hit his face.
Darryl stands by the stove with the empty pan.
EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX - EVENING
POLICE OFFICERS put Marcus into a squad car. He has a bandage on his face. Shanel holds Vanessa while the kids huddle together. NEIGHBORS observe.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
That was the last I saw of my father. He went to prison soon after that. I’m just glad Vanessa was too young to remember him.
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - DAY
The kids sit in the living room, watching cartoons.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Growing up, our favorite day of the month was when the public assistance check came.
Shanel brings a plastic bag into the room and pulls out a Nintendo Entertainment System.
SHANEL
Merry Christmas, everyone!
LEO
Nintendo!
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - DAY
Leo and Laquita play Super Mario Brothers as the other kids watch. There’s a knock on the door, and Shanel goes to open it. DRUG DEALER #1 stands outside. He hands her a bag of crack and she gives him some folded bills. The kids witness the deal.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
But then things changed.
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - DAY
The kids sit at the table. Shanel, unkept and dreary-eyed, clunks down a loaf of bread and a plastic knife. Laquita cuts it and passes out the pieces. Everyone has their own plastic cup of water. Shanel leaves the kitchen, and goes to sit with a STRANGE MAN on the sofa.
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The kids sit in the living room. Rene and Stacey are playing Super Mario Brothers. Smoke seeps from under the bedroom door behind them.
LAQUITA
That shit smells worse than yesterday!
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - DAY
The kids sit in the living room. The Nintendo is gone, but the TV remains. Smoke continues to seep from under the door behind them.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
We may have been young, but we knew that Mom was having some problems.
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - DAY
The TV is gone. Smoke still seeps from under the door. While the other kids sit around, looking bored, Darryl kneels, peering under the sofa.
DARRYL
Roach!
Darryl picks it up and plays with it.
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - DAY
The kids are gone. Smoke continues to seep from under the door.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
It wasn’t long before social services came for us.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL HOME - DAY
Leo and Laquita get out of the back seat of a cab, holding bags. JANET, Shanel’s older sister, stands on the porch, dressed in a nightgown, smoking a cigarette.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Leo and Laquita moved in with our Aunt Janet.
JANET
Hurry up, I’m cold. Get in here.
EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
Stacey and Rene hold hands with Tony, who leads them down the street. They walk past a HOMELESS MAN, who sleeps on the sidewalk. A car alarm goes off in the distance. Then a gunshot.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Stacey and Rene’s father got custody of them.
INT. FOSTER CARE HOME #1 - DAY
Vanessa and Darryl sit on the sofa, watching “Enter the Dragon.”
NARRATOR (V.O.)
That left me and Vanessa. We went into a foster home.
DARRYL
I’ma be like Bruce Lee when I grow up.
Darryl jumps up in a karate stance. He makes stereotypical karate noises as he throws wild kicks, including a blind spinning round kick that knocks a lamp off the table. It breaks.
The FOSTER MOTHER enters.
FOSTER MOTHER
Darryl!
She sees the broken lamp. Darryl points at Vanessa.
INT. FOSTER CARE HOME #1 - DAY
Darryl sits in the corner, cross-legged, staring at the wall. Using crayons, Vanessa draws a picture.
FOSTER MOTHER (O.S.)
That boy is on my last nerves! They’re gonna have to pay me more than this to put up with him!
Vanessa walks over to the corner, gives the picture to Darryl, kisses his cheek, and walks away. The drawing is of her and Darryl holding hands under a rainbow.
INT. FOSTER CARE HOME #2 - DAY
Darryl and Vanessa watch wrestling on TV. George “The Animal” Steele bites the padding from the turnbuckle in the corner of the ring.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Vanessa and I didn’t stay at the same place for too long. We were always moving around for some reason.
Darryl bites the pillow, tearing cotton from it.
The FOSTER FATHER enters.
FOSTER FATHER
My pillow!
EXT. PUBLIC POOL - DAY
The six Marshall kids, accompanied by Shanel and Janet, skip along with their towels and swimsuits to a CROWDED pool.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Mom didn’t lose all her parental rights, so we got to visit when the judge said we could.
EXT. PUBLIC POOL - DAY
Darryl takes a running start, howls like Tarzan, and jumps into the pool. Leo, Laquita, Stacey and Rene splash each other, while Vanessa sits on the edge.
Janet and Shanel sit nearby.
JANET
Why you think I got the time to watch two more of your kids if I can barely keep an eye on the first two?
SHANEL
I promise, it won’t be for much longer. I been clean six months now and the permanency hearing’s in September.
JANET
Please. You been in and out of rehab, you expect me to believe the judge is gonna send them home like that?
Two white boys jump into the pool near the Marshall children.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Leo and Laquita taught me early on to always watch your family’s back, no matter what.
LAQUITA
Uh-uh. This is our part of the pool. You go somewheres.
KID #1
It’s not your pool!
LAQUITA
You best get your ass out of here now!
KID #2
Make us!
Laquita and Leo advance on the boys.
EXT. PUBLIC POOL - DAY
Laquita dances on the side of the pool, waving around two swimsuits, sticking out her tongue. The two boys, red-faced, hold onto the edge of the pool with one hand, covering themselves up with the other. Darryl, Leo, Stacey and Rene laugh. Vanessa walks away.
Shanel and Janet are still arguing in the background, oblivious to what’s going on.
KID #1
Give it back!
A LIFEGUARD blows the whistle.
LIFEGUARD
Hey!
Laquita tosses the swimsuits into the pool, far from the two boys. Other people in the pool watch and laugh.
SHANEL
Laquita!
The lifeguard approaches Janet and Shanel as they get up to confront Laquita.
LIFEGUARD
These your kids?
SHANEL
Yes, they are.
LIFEGUARD
They’re banned from here.
Darryl takes another running start, howls like Tarzan, and jumps into the pool.
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
JUDGE CLARK - a black man - sits on the bench. Leo, Darryl, Laquita and Vanessa sit at a table in the center with their LAWYER. Shanel and her LAWYER are at another table. SALLY, a white social worker, 40s, is at another table with the Department of Health and Human Services ATTORNEY. Tony, Rene, Stacey and Janet sit behind Shanel.
JUDGE CLARK
Your recent parole violation doesn’t help your case right now, Ms. Marshall.
SHANEL
(screaming and crying)
It wasn’t my fault!
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - DAY
Shanel, looking distraught, opens the door to DRUG DEALER #2. She pays him and he hands her a bag of cocaine.
INT. JAIL CELL - DAY
Shanel sits in a jail cell, crying.
INT. CLASSROOM - DaY - FIVE YEARS LATER
The TEACHER lectures in front of the CLASS. DARRYL, 10, sleeps at his desk.
TEACHER
Darryl? Will you please wake up?
Darryl looks up groggily.
TEACHER (cont’d)
Are you ready to pay attention like the rest of the class?
DARRYL
I wanna go home.
TEACHER
It’s not time to go home. It’s time to pay attention.
DARRYL
Damn! What are you, deaf? I said I wanna go home!
Darryl knocks his books off his desk and storms out of class. The teacher rushes after him.
EXT. FOSTER CARE HOME #3 - DAY
Darryl exits the foster home with Sally and VANESSA, 8, holding bags.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Because of my behavior, my social worker, Sally, took me out of foster care and put me somewhere she said would help me. For the first time in my life, I was separated from Vanessa.
Vanessa suddenly starts crying and hugs Darryl. He holds her tightly.
DARRYL
Everything’ll be all right. Don’t worry. It’ll be all right.
EXT. HOSPITAL - DAY
The sign on the gates of the hospital says “D.C. CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL.” Sally drives Darryl to the facility.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
But really, nothing was all right.
INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
Darryl waits in the medication line. A NURSE passes out medicine and water to each patient.
DARRYL
Why I gotta keep taking this?
NURSE
To keep you calm.
INT. HOSPITAL BEDROOM - DAY
Darryl kicks the wall over and over again.
INT. HOSPITAL BEDROOM - DAY
Darryl lies on his bed, crying.
INT. HOSPITAL BEDROOM - DAY
Darryl continues kicking the wall.
INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
Darryl screams as ORDERLIES pin him down in a chair. A DOCTOR ties a rubber band around Darryl’s arm and inserts a needle.
INT. HOSPITAL CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY - TWO YEARS LATER
Three DOCTORS sit at a conference table with Sally. Darryl, 12, enters and takes a seat.
SALLY
Hello, Darryl.
Darryl just stares at the table.
SALLY (cont’d)
The doctors tell me you’re unhappy.
DARRYL
You try living two years up in here.
SALLY
How would you like to go live somewhere else?
DARRYL
(perking)
I can go home?
SALLY
Well, not home...
(Darryl’s head drops)
A group home. You’ll be living with a few other boys your age. And you’ll get to visit your family more often. How does that sound?
DARRYL
You ain’t playin’?
SALLY
I’m serious.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Sally was the one who put me in there, and the one who got me out - just like that.
EXT. GROUP HOME - DAY
Outside a suburban house, DAVE WILLIAMS, a muscular black man, 31, sits on the porch with three children who are about 12. There’s thick-boned BROCK JOHNSON, slim KORDELL THOMAS, and HANK LITTLE, a chubby white kid.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
I was 12 years old when Sally put me in Mitchell Group Homes. It was in Laurel, Maryland, not far from D.C., but still a long way from my family.
Sally parks the car in the driveway, talking on the phone.
SALLY
No, she always gets in trouble when she goes home, so I’m suspending the weekend visits. That’s my decision.
(pause)
I don’t care if he calls for a court hearing, I’ll tell that to the judge.
DAVE
Come on fellas, get down there and help with his bags.
Darryl and Dave meet near the car and shake hands. Dave grips firmly while Darryl shakes limply and doesn’t look him in the eyes.
DAVE (cont’d)
Hi. You must be Darryl. I’m Mr. Williams.
Kordell, Hank and Brock approach Darryl as Sally exits the car and opens the trunk. Dave goes to talk with her.
KORDELL
Wassup, man? I’m Kordell.
HANK
Hank.
DARRYL
Darryl.
Darryl shakes hands with Kordell and Hank while Dave pulls bags out of the trunk. Brock stares at Darryl menacingly.
BROCK
Don’t be touching my stuff.
DAVE
Brock! You know better than that! Apologize!
Brock walks inside.
DAVE (cont’d)
Brock! Hey, excuse him for his behavior, he’s had a bad day.
A red two-door sports car pulls up. Darryl stares at it in awe.
DAVE (cont’d)
Here comes Mr. Mitchell.
JOHN MITCHELL, a handsome black man, 40s, exits the car with EDDIE BROWN, 21.
JOHN
Hey! How you doing, Sally? This must be Darryl. I’m Mr. Mitchell, director of Mitchell Group Homes.
Darryl nods and shakes John’s hand. This time, Darryl grips firmly and looks John in the eyes.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Mr. Mitchell drove the coolest car I’ve ever seen. If he was going to drive us around in that all the time, I wouldn’t have minded living there.
JOHN
This is my cousin, Eddie. He works with the clients.
EDDIE
(unenthusiastically)
What’s up.
Eddie shakes hands with Darryl.
EXT. BASKETBALL COURT - DAY
Eddie, Darryl, Kordell, Hank and Brock walk through the park to the basketball court. Kordell bounces the ball.
EDDIE
Kordell and Darryl, you be on one team, Brock and Hank on the other.
BROCK
Why I gotta be on Hank’s team?
EDDIE
Brock, cause I said, okay? Now shut up and check.
Eddie lies down on a park bench, puts on his headphones, and reads Vibe magazine. Kordell bounces the ball to Hank, who sends it back. Kordell passes to Darryl, who stands there, unsure what to do. Brock steals the ball and passes to Hank, who shoots it in.
Brock bounces the ball to Kordell, who sends it back. Brock passes to Hank, who easily dribbles around Darryl and shoots it in. Brock laughs.
BROCK
(to Darryl)
Man, you suck!
HANK
You ain’t never played before?
DARRYL
I don’t like basketball.
Hank, Brock and Kordell burst out laughing.
BROCK
(still laughing)
You black and you don’t like basketball?
DARRYL
No.
They laugh even harder.
HANK
See Brock, now I ain’t the worst one here no more. You always saying I’m the worst, now I ain’t.
KORDELL
That’s all right, we’ll teach you.
Kordell bounces the ball to Darryl.
KORDELL (cont’d)
Now shoot it.
Darryl shoots. The ball misses the backboard and rolls into the grass. The laughing resumes.
BROCK
Even white boy here laughing at you.
HANK
You threw it, you get it.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Now, I didn’t care that a white boy was beating me. It’s just that no one treated me that way before. I had to restrain myself from knocking them out.
Muttering under his breath, Darryl goes to get the ball.
At the other end of the court, three white boys, RAY, BRIAN and GREG, arrive with a basketball. They’re in their mid teens.
RAY
(in Brock’s direction)
You all got another living with you? My dad says that’ll bring down the property value more.
BROCK
Shut your mouth.
KORDELL
(to Brock)
Just ignore them. They ain’t nothing but assholes and Brock always fighting with them.
RAY
Come over here and make me shut up, crackhead-momma bastard.
Clenching his fists, Brock marches toward Ray. Darryl watches while holding the basketball.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Even though I didn’t care if Brock got his face punched in, I knew that was my chance to get some respect.
Darryl drops the ball and follows.
BROCK
I’ma beat your ass!
KORDELL
Darryl, don’t go over there.
Eddie finally notices what’s going on, sits up and removes his headphones.
EDDIE
Brock! Mind your business.
(to Ray)
And you mind your business, too.
RAY
Tell them to stop talking shit.
Eddie rushes over as Brock shoves Ray. Darryl steps up to Brian.
EDDIE
Darryl, step away! I said step away!
Kordell and Hank run toward the fight as Darryl and Brian start pushing each other. Eddie pulls Brock away and struggles to restrain him. As Hank gets to the action, Greg pushes him to the ground. Kordell goes to help him up.
EDDIE
(to Brock, Kordell, Darryl and Hank)
Go home! Walk home now!
RAY
Go tell your dads. Oh, my fault, you don’t got any!
Darryl takes a big swing and clocks Brian in the face, giving him a bloody nose. Eddie sees this and loses his grip on Brock, who attacks Ray again. Darryl watches as Greg goes to help Brian, who is bent over, dripping blood. Eddie separates Brock and Ray.
EDDIE
Kordell, get the ball.
RAY
We’re gonna get you.
EDDIE
Shut your bitch ass up and go home. Don’t be messing with them or I’ll come after you.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
The best thing about knocking that boy in the face - the others stopped making fun of me for sucking at basketball.
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - EVENING
Darryl talks on the phone, standing away from Brock, Hank and Kordell, who watch TV.
DARRYL
I don’t wanna live here no more, Sally.
SALLY (O.S.)
(filtered)
You haven’t even been there for a full day.
DARRYL
I wanna go home.
SALLY (O.S.)
(filtered)
That’s up to the judge to decide.
Dave pokes his head into the room.
DAVE
Beans and franks are ready, gentlemen. Come and get it.
INT. GROUP HOME KITCHEN - EVENING
Eddie, Brock, Hank, Kordell and Darryl sit around the table. Dave serves lunch. As everyone starts eating, Darryl just stares at his food.
DAVE
What’s the matter, Darryl?
KORDELL
Ain’t nothing should be the matter. He just beat the hell out of that kid down the street.
Glaring at Kordell, Eddie cringes and puts his finger to his lip.
DAVE
What you mean?
KORDELL
At basketball.
DAVE
Darryl, you beat someone at basketball?
DARRYL
(ignoring Eddie’s gestures)
No, I beat him cause he was messing with us.
EDDIE
It was nothing, Dave. They was just playing, but I broke it up.
DAVE
Why were they messing with you?
EDDIE
Cause they’re punks. They weren’t minding their business.
DAVE
You all right, Darryl?
DARRYL
Yeah, I’m fine. It was nothing.
HANK
(pounding his fist into his palm)
Like hell it was nothing. You bitch-slapped that boy, cuz.
Hank extends his hand to high-five Darryl but is left hanging. Eddie lightly whacks Hank on the back of the head.
EDDIE
How many times I tell you to stop cursing?
Dave pats Darryl on the back.
DAVE
Come on, Darryl. Eat up. Just don’t get into no more fights.
INT. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - NIGHT
Darryl and Kordell lie on bunk beds, Kordell on top. The lights are out.
KORDELL
Hey man, that was cool of you to fight that kid. You didn’t need to do that.
DARRYL
Just sticking up for you all.
KORDELL
There been ten other boys who been through here who wouldn’t have done that.
DARRYL
You like living here?
KORDELL
Where else would I live?
DARRYL
I don’t know. Somewhere, anywhere, you know?
KORDELL
I don’t got no where else to go.
DARRYL
What about your mom’s?
KORDELL
(chuckling)
Ain’t got none.
DARRYL
Damn. That sucks.
KORDELL
Man, you don’t even know. Don’t even know.
Suddenly, the boys hear several loud smacks against the house, coming from outside. Darryl and Kordell jump out of bed.
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
In their pajamas, Darryl and Kordell rush out of their room, as do Brock and Hank. Eddie runs out the door as the smacks continue.
EXT. GROUP HOME - NIGHT
Three FIGURES in the dark hurl eggs at the house, then take off running as Eddie hurries to the curb.
EDDIE
You all come back here! I’m gonna fuck you up!
The boys stand on the porch.
EDDIE (cont’d)
(to the boys)
Get back in your rooms!
Egg yolk drips down the house.
INT. JOHN’S CAR - MORNING
John drives, while Hank and Darryl sit in the back seat.
JOHN
I was there. Saw Doug Williams lead the Skins to victory over the Broncos. First black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
HANK
You meet him?
JOHN
No. But I met Magic Johnson once at a benefit out in L.A. Before he got HIV. The year Michael Jordan beat him in the Finals.
John pulls the car over by the school.
JOHN (cont’d)
All right boys, summer school. Mr. Williams will be back here to pick you up at two.
Hank gets out of the car, but Darryl stays.
JOHN (cont’d)
What’s the matter, Darryl?
DARRYL
I don’t wanna go.
JOHN
Why not?
DARRYL
Cause...
JOHN
Darryl, you’ve got to go. Your mother allowed us to enroll you.
Darryl is silent.
JOHN
You don’t want to disappoint your mother, do you?
DARRYL
No.
JOHN
All right, then. I’ll walk you in. Okay?
INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
The TEACHER writes on the board in front of the CLASS. Darryl’s eyes drift to the window.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
The summer school they put me in was for troubled youths.
A spitwad hits Darryl in the back of the head. He turns around.
DARRYL
Who threw that?
TEACHER
Excuse me, what’s wrong?
DARRYL
Some motherfucker throwing paper at me!
(pointing to the floor)
See?
TEACHER
Please don’t curse.
The students remain silent. Then JACK points at VAUGHN.
JACK
He did it.
VAUGHN
(standing)
Don’t be pointing at me!
DARRYL
Which one of you all was it? Tell me so I can beat your ass!
VAUGHN
Man, sit your ass down. You ain’t beating no one’s ass.
DARRYL
It was you, then.
Darryl charges at Vaughn and punches him in the nose. Vaughn lets out a yelp of pain and grabs his face. The teacher runs to the front of a room and sounds an alarm. Jack walks over, laughing, extending his hand for a high-five.
JACK
Man, you fucked him up!
Two SECURITY GUARDS rush into the room. The teacher points at Darryl and they go after him, tackling him and pinning him to the floor. He struggles to break free.
DARRYL
Get off! Get off!
INT. GROUP HOME OFFICE - EVENING
Dave sits at a desk in front of Darryl. Large binders - one for each client with their names in block letters along the side - are on a shelf behind him.
DAVE
You broke that boy’s nose, Darryl.
DARRYL
So?
DAVE
So now you’ve got to serve three days of suspension. You lose television privileges. You still have to do your homework. And you’re going back to class on Monday and apologize. You understand?
Darryl is silent.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
I couldn’t get over the size of those binders. That was my life in there. Every detail that the psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, foster parents, and whoever else wrote about me.
DAVE (cont’d)
It wasn’t worth it, Darryl. Do you understand?
DARRYL
(mumbling)
Yeah.
INT. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - EVENING
There appears to be no one in Darryl’s room, but he’s under the bed. Someone knocks.
DAVE (O.S.)
Darryl?
DARRYL
Yeah?
DAVE (O.S.)
May I come in?
DARRYL
Yeah.
Dave enters. He walks to the bed and looks under.
DAVE
What you doing hiding under there? Get on up here.
Darryl scoots from under the bed and sits with Dave.
DAVE (cont’d)
I was just discussing something with Mr. Mitchell on the phone, and he allowed me to ask you. I’m one of the instructors at a karate class down at the rec center. The other clients aren’t interested, but if you want to join, all we gotta do is get your mother’s permission.
Darryl is silent.
DAVE (cont’d)
You interested?
DARRYL
No.
DAVE
Why not? I think it’d be good for you.
DARRYL
You just tell me not to fight nobody, now you want me to learn karate?
DAVE
Karate isn’t about fighting. It’s about self control and self defense.
DARRYL
I don’t need that.
DAVE
Well, maybe you’ll change your mind.
Dave leaves the room.
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Darryl, down and dejected, sits on the love seat, looking at a piece of paper. Brock and TINA, 21, sit on the sofa, looking at papers.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Brock got suspended the same day I did, so he was home with me. This girl named Tina watched us, and helped us with our schoolwork.
TINA
All them words be coming out your mouth, some of them better be from the paper.
Brock gives his I’m-pissed-and-annoyed scowl.
TINA (cont’d)
Just cause you’re suspended don’t mean you don’t have to do your work. Please. Read from the paper.
BROCK
Darryl ain’t working.
TINA
Darryl ain’t any of your concern. Now, if you don’t read, you’re not getting dessert tonight.
BROCK
All right, damn.
Darryl just stares at the piece of paper. It’s the picture that Vanessa drew for him years earlier.
INT. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - DAY
Darryl sits on his bed, head hung low. Hank runs into the room.
HANK
Darryl!
DARRYL
Huh?
HANK
Come outside. Mr. Williams about to do something.
DARRYL
What?
HANK
Man, just come. He does this sometime.
EXT. GROUP HOME - DAY
In the middle of the driveway, the edges of a double-stacked cinderblock sit horizontally on two big cinderblocks. A towel is spread underneath.
Dave stands near it, rubbing his palm. Brock and Kordell watch from the porch. A few NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS, on their bikes, stop at the curb to watch.
DARRYL
He gonna smash it?
BROCK
No, he gonna eat it.
Hank and Kordell laugh.
Dave stands over the cinderblocks, lifting his palms as he breathes in, and pressing them down as he breathes out.
DARRYL
Ain’t no way he can break that.
KORDELL
Shhh!
Dave hunches over, holds his palm over the top cinderblock and presses down. His elbow is bent. He lifts his palm and slowly puts it back on the cinderblock.
Darryl’s jaw hangs open.
DARRYL
No way.
BROCK AND KORDELL
Shhh!
Dave screams as his hand smashes through the cinderblocks, which crumble onto the towel. Everyone but Darryl applauds. Darryl’s mouth hangs open and drool falls out.
HANK
Darryl’s drooling!
BROCK
Ewww, young, wipe your mouth.
Darryl wipes his mouth. Hank and Kordell burst out laughing.
DAVE
Show’s over. Now, you all come clean this.
Darryl stares at the cinderblocks, and at Dave’s hand.
INT. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Darryl wears a sweat suit while other KIDS wear karate uniforms and white belts. They’re lined up with their hands to their sides. Dave, wearing a black belt, stands nearby at attention with other ADULTS, including MASTER KIM.
MASTER KIM
(to the kids)
Our school motto in Korean is “Ineh, Sooryun, Ingyuk.” Patience, training, character. Patience and training build character.
Dave nods at Darryl.
MASTER KIM (cont’d)
You’re here to learn self-discipline. You will only fight as a last resort, only to defend yourself and others who need to be defended.
INT. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Darryl stands with his hands at his side. Dave is in front of him.
DAVE
When the instructor yells “Chah ryut,” that’s Korean for “get ready.”
Dave kicks his left leg up to his right knee, crosses his fists and abruptly puts them in front of him as he drops his foot, breathing out heavily as it lands, toes pointed upward.
DAVE (cont’d)
Now you.
Darryl does the same, but lazily, without power.
DAVE (cont’d)
(adjusting Darryl’s hands)
A bit stronger. Strong fists. Toes pointed upward. Try again.
Darryl does it again, this time a little better.
DAVE (cont’d)
Good. Now, when the instructor yells “Kyung neh,” that means you bow out.
From the same stance, Dave puts his arms at his side, slides his feet together, and bows while keeping his eyes on Darryl.
DAVE (cont’d)
Now you.
Darryl does it perfectly. His eyes stare straight ahead.
DAVE (cont’d)
Good. Now lets try it again. “Chah ryut!”
Darryl stands at attention.
DAVE (cont’d)
“Kyung neh.”
Darryl bows.
INT. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Darryl, now wearing a karate uniform and white belt, throws punches in unison with the other students as Master Kim signals them to move with grunts.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Mr. Williams took me to class twice a week. He even loaned my mother twenty bucks for a uniform.
INT. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Darryl, wearing a chest protector, hand guards and head protector, steps back in a stance as Master Kim signals for the bout to begin. Darryl kicks and punches his OPPONENT.
INT. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Still in fighting gear, Darryl blocks an OPPONENT’s kick and counters with a reverse punch to the stomach.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
All of a sudden, tae kwon do was the only thing I cared about. Well, almost the only thing.
INT. SHANEL’S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Darryl and VANESSA, now 10, sit on the sofa. STACEY and RENE, 14, sit on the floor. Stacey has her feet on Rene’s ankles and they hold onto each other’s arms while rocking back and forth, stretching their legs.
INT. SHANEL’S KITCHEN - DAY
Janet and Shanel stand in front of LAQUITA, 15, and LEO, 16.
JANET
Last night, she stole my keys and tried starting my car. Luckily she don’t know the stick shift, otherwise she would’ve ran someone over.
SHANEL
Laquita, why’d you do that, baby?
INT. SHANEL’S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Stacey looks up at Darryl.
STACEY
Darryl, you do stretching in karate class?
DARRYL
Yeah.
STACEY
We do it for ballet.
DARRYL
So?
INT. SHANEL’S KITCHEN - DAY
Janet continues scolding Leo and Laquita.
JANET
(to Leo)
And don’t even get me started on you.
LEO
Man, what I do?
JANET
You got caught stealing candy bars at the store last week.
LEO
They didn’t catch me.
JANET
I caught you.
INT. SHANEL’S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Darryl mocks a ballet movement as he twirls on his toes.
DARRYL
Ballet is for girls.
RENE
It ain’t just for girls.
DARRYL
Okay, then, how many boys in your class?
Rene and Stacey are silent.
INT. SHANEL’S KITCHEN - DAY
Janet lights a cigarette.
JANET
...and he’s failing all his classes.
LEO
You ain’t get me no tutor!
JANET
You don’t need no tutor, you need the police to escort your ass to class!
SHANEL
Leo, you need to go to class, baby. You won’t be able to get into college if you keep skipping.
JANET
College? Sheeeeee...
INT. SHANEL’S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Darryl is on the floor, getting his legs stretched by Rene. Vanessa is still on the sofa.
STACEY
Come on Vanessa, come do this.
Vanessa shakes her head.
DARRYL
Ah! This hurts my nuts!
RENE
(laughing)
You a baby. You ain’t gonna be no good at karate if you can’t stretch.
Rene pulls him farther down.
DARRYL
My nuts!
STACEY
Boy, it’s your inner thighs that hurts, not your nuts.
Rene lets go. Darryl slowly gets up and sits on the sofa with Vanessa. Rene and Stacey dance around the room, practicing their ballet steps.
DARRYL
(groaning)
That hurt.
Darryl rubs his legs.
DARRYL (cont’d)
What’s the matter?
VANESSA
(mumbling)
Nothin’.
DARRYL
Quit lyin’. What’s the matter?
VANESSA
Ain’t nothin’ the matter.
INT. SHANEL’S KITCHEN - DAY
Shanel now appears annoyed with Janet.
JANET
I told them three times to clean their bathroom last week but they only washed the mirror. Then they messed that up again!
SHANEL
(to Leo and Laquita)
You wanna live in a foster home?
LEO AND LAQUITA
No.
SHANEL
Cause I won’t be able to see you as much if you live in a foster home. You keep making trouble for your aunt, Sally just might put you in one.
JANET
Ain’t no foster parent gonna want them.
SHANEL
The permanency hearing’s next month. You got a good chance of coming home this time. You gotta be good, okay?
Leo and Laquita nod.
LEO
I’ll be on my best behavior.
JANET
That boy’s lyin’ through his teeth.
INT. SHANEL’S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Sitting on the sofa, Darryl gives Vanessa a hug, but Vanessa doesn’t hug back.
EXT. GROUP HOME BACKYARD PATIO - EVENING
John places burgers on a charcoal grill. Darryl walks outside.
JOHN
Hey Darryl, come on over. You’ve been quiet all evening. What’s on your mind?
DARRYL
Can my little sister come and live here?
JOHN
Unfortunately not. This is a male-only facility. But I’ll look into getting her transferred to one of my other homes nearby. Maybe then you can visit more often.
Darryl nods.
JOHN
Now come here, lemme show you how to make these burgers you like. Never press down on them. That gets rid of the juice, and all you’ve got is a cooked piece of beef with no taste...
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Darryl, Brock, Hank and Kordell watch cartoons. Tina is with them.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
When we weren’t at school, and when I wasn’t at tae kwon do, and there wasn’t nothing to do, we watched TV with whoever counselor was there that day.
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Darryl, Brock, Hank and Kordell watch the news. COUNSELOR #1, a white woman, early 20s, sits with them, yapping on the phone.
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Darryl, Brock, Hank and Kordell watch “Oprah.” COUNSELOR #2, an elderly black man, reads the newspaper.
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Darryl, Brock, Hank and Kordell watch “Jerry Springer.” COUNSELOR #3, a woman wearing a headscarf, sits with them. Hank props his feet up on the coffee table.
COUNSELOR #3
Put your feet down!
Hank complies before she even finishes her sentence.
INT. GROUP HOME HALLWAY - DAY
Brock walks down the hall as Hank exits the bedroom.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
When we got sick of watching TV, or when we were on restriction, that’s when trouble started for no reason.
BROCK
Tina!
TINA (O.S.)
Yeah?
BROCK
Hank called me a punk ass motherfucker!
HANK
No I didn’t!
BROCK
He said he was gonna kick me in my nuts.
Tina walks into the hallway.
TINA
Brock! No cursing.
BROCK
I was just saying what he said.
TINA
I don’t believe he even said it.
BROCK
Why you always taking his side?
TINA
I’m not always taking his side, but I know a lie when I hear a lie. And for that, you’re not watching TV tonight.
BROCK
Shit! But Simpsons is on!
TINA
I said no cursing. Now go do your laundry. Your clothes stink worse than anyone in here.
A firecracker explodes outside. Tina runs to the back door.
EXT. GROUP HOME BACKYARD - DAY
Darryl and Kordell stand over a burnt firecracker. Darryl holds matches.
DARRYL
I didn’t know it was gonna be that loud!
Tina walks out the back door onto the patio. Darryl stuffs the matches in his pocket.
TINA
You all in deep trouble! Gimme what you have, now!
KORDELL
It was me. I did it. Darryl was just watching.
TINA
Uh-uh. You ain’t tradin’ blame on my watch so he owes you for next time. You both gettin’ written up.
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Kordell, Brock, Darryl and Hank sit around the living room, holding pens and sheets of paper. A PSYCHOLOGIST runs the meeting.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Twice a month, we had group therapy.
PSYCHOLOGIST
Okay, starting with you, Darryl, please read what you wrote.
Darryl faces Hank.
DARRYL
Hank, I like you cause you are nice to me and make me laugh and you gave me your green beans last night.
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Hank faces Brock.
HANK
Dear Brock, you are my friend. I want you be nice... to be nice... to me, cause I like when you are nice to me and I am nice with you.
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Brock uncomfortably faces Kordell.
BROCK
Do I have to read this?
PSYCHOLOGIST
Yes, Brock.
BROCK
What happens if I don’t?
PSYCHOLOGIST
Brock, please read what you wrote.
BROCK
Fine. Damn.
(pauses)
Kordell, you play basketball with me.
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Kordell faces Darryl.
KORDELL
Darryl, you are my friend. I hope your mom gets well so you can go home, but I still want you to visit us.
INT. GROUP HOME OFFICE - DAY
A PSYCHIATRIST, the psychologist and Dave sit in the office. Darryl sits with them. Darryl’s binder, overflowing with pages, is open.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Once a month, I had my medication review. Stuff they gave me to keep me ‘normal.’
PSYCHIATRIST
(writing)
Trileptal, 500 milligrams, Zyprexa, 10 milligrams, Concerta, 54, Lithobid, 250, Amatadine, 100, DDAVP, .2 milligrams, and... Advair, 200 milligrams.
Darryl stares at the binder.
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Darryl sits on the sofa, watching TV by himself. John enters and sits next to him.
JOHN
I’ve got some bad news. Sally and your mother aren’t willing to place Vanessa in one of my homes nearby. They don’t want to move her around anymore. She lives much closer to your mother now, anyway.
Darryl sulks.
JOHN (cont’d)
Just wanted to let you know that I tried.
John pats Darryl on the back.
INT. DAVE’S CAR - MORNING
Hank and Darryl sit in the backseat while Dave drives. Brock, pissed off as usual, is in the front.
DAVE
(to Brock)
This school won’t put up with you misbehaving, and they’re not going to kick you out like the last one. They’ll restrain you if they have to. But you’ll be rewarded when we know you’re trying, so you need to start doing your work.
DARRYL
(to Hank)
Why does Kordell go to a different school?
HANK
He in a special school.
DARRYL
This is a special school.
HANK
No, he goes to a special school for smart kids. Called magnum school.
EXT. BASKETBALL COURT - DAY
Darryl shoots baskets as Kordell catches the rebound and throws it back to him. Eddie sits nearby, reading a magazine and listening to music on his headphones.
DARRYL
Man, I’m sick of this. The medication, these messed up schools, all this shit.
KORDELL
I don’t know why you always complaining.
DARRYL
Why shouldn’t I?
KORDELL
Please, man. You still get to see your family. And you know the judge is gonna send you home soon.
(gesturing toward Eddie)
You’ll get away from this asshole.
Darryl stares at Kordell for a beat. Then he takes a shot and misses.
KORDELL (cont’d)
(grabbing the ball)
Follow through with your shot.
Kordell sends the ball back to him.
KORDELL (cont’d)
You know how much Mr. Mitchell gets for having us here?
DARRYL
What?
KORDELL
$120 a day. Each kid. He’s got like four or five homes like this. That’s why he’s in this business, not cause he cares about us.
Darryl follows through, but misses.
DARRYL
You don’t think he cares about us?
KORDELL
No.
DARRYL
I think he does.
KORDELL
Man, you don’t know.
EDDIE
(sitting up)
It’s time to go.
KORDELL
Five more minutes.
EDDIE
No, now gimme the ball.
Kordell takes the ball and shoots it. Swish.
EDDIE (cont’d)
I said gimme the ball! I’m writing you up for that!
KORDELL
So?
EDDIE
You better watch your mouth, Kordell.
KORDELL
(mumbling)
I’m sick of your shit.
Eddie steps up to Kordell as if he’s about to fight him.
DARRYL
(picking up the ball)
Eddie, here.
KORDELL
You wanna say that to my face?
DARRYL
Eddie, here’s the ball!
Kordell looks away.
EDDIE
I didn’t think so.
Darryl bounces the ball to Eddie.
EDDIE (cont’d)
Now walk home.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - DAY
As Kordell, Darryl and Eddie walk home, they pass Ray and Greg on the other side of the road.
EDDIE
(to Kordell and Darryl)
Don’t say nothing. Just shut your mouth.
As Ray and Greg pass by, Darryl turns to look at them. Ray flips him the middle finger.
DARRYL
Motherfucker!
Darryl turns to run after them. Eddie grabs him by the shoulders.
EDDIE
Come on!
Ray and Greg stand there, laughing.
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Eddie hands Darryl some pills and a cup of water. Gangsta rap music blares from another room.
EDDIE
Hank! Turn it down!
Darryl puts the pills in his mouth, takes a gulp of water, then spits the pills into his hand and puts them into his pocket as Eddie heads to Hank’s room.
EDDIE (O.S.)(cont’d)
I said turn it off!
INT. GYMNASIUM - DAY
In protective gear, Darryl spars with a kid named JAMES, who kicks Darryl below the belt. In a rage, Darryl tackles him. Dave rushes over and pulls him off.
DAVE
Darryl! Control yourself!
INT. DaVE’S CAR - DAY
Dave drives with Darryl.
DAVE
What was that all about?
DARRYL
He kicked me in my nuts.
DAVE
I’m sure it was an accident, and you shouldn’t have reacted that way. I’ve gotta punish you. No class Thursday.
DARRYL
(mumbling)
Sorry.
DAVE
What you saying that to me for? You need to apologize to James.
DARRYL
Can I do it Thursday in class?
DAVE
I’ll take you to class, and you’ll apologize, but you’re still not working out. You’ve gotta learn self control. That’s what it’s all about. What you did wasn’t worth it.
Darryl pouts.
INT. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - NIGHT
In the bedroom by himself, Darryl is crying. He grabs a plastic bag of about 50 pills from underneath his bed and puts two more in it.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
I held onto those pills. I figured if things got bad enough, I could kill myself with them.
INT. GROUP HOME KITCHEN - DAY
Tina cooks dinner. Darryl enters and opens the refrigerator.
TINA
What are you doing?
DARRYL
Getting a soda.
TINA
You just gonna have to wait for dinner like everybody else. Now close it.
Darryl slams the refrigerator door shut.
DARRYL
Come on! I’m thirsty!
TINA
I said wait until dinner!
DARRYL
You a god damn bitch!
Tina’s jaw drops as Darryl marches out of the kitchen.
INT. GROUP HOME OFFICE - DAY
Dave sits at the desk, writing in Darryl’s binder. Tina and Darryl sit across from him. The bag of Darryl’s pills is on the desk.
DAVE
For now on, the staff is instructed to watch you swallow your pills. Understood?
Darryl nods.
EXT. GROUP HOME BACKYARD PATIO - EVENING
Darryl flips burgers on the grill. Hank, Brock and Kordell sit at the picnic table. John walks out the back door.
JOHN
How’s it coming?
DARRYL
Good.
John pokes at the burgers. The phone rings inside.
JOHN
A little longer.
John hurries inside.
JOHN (O.S.)
Hello?
HANK
I’m really excited cause my cousin is gonna take me to Six Flags tomorrow. I ain’t never been there. He’s gonna pick me up at nine, drive us down, spend the whole day there. But I don’t wanna go on no rollercoasters that go upside down.
BROCK
You been saying for years that he’s gonna take you somewheres. He ain’t never come here.
JOHN (O.S.)
I said not to do that!
Kordell looks through the screen door.
HANK
Yeah, but the difference is, this time, he said he promised me. I’ve been saving up my allowance. I’m gonna get you all souvenirs. I’ve been looking forward to this.
BROCK
Darryl, where my burger at?
Darryl flips one on the plate.
EXT. GROUP HOME PORCH - EVENING
Sitting around the table, the boys start eating their burgers.
JOHN (O.S.)
You gonna have to bring him the money!
KORDELL
Sounds like Mr. Mitchell’s in trouble again.
BROCK
Mine tastes raw.
Kordell, Hank and Brock spit it out.
HANK
Ewww! Nasty.
KORDELL
Mine ain’t cooked, neither.
HANK
Man, you gonna give us food poisoning. You trying to make me sick so I can’t go to Six Flags.
KORDELL
Shut up, Hank.
DARRYL
Then put them on the grill and cook them your damn self!
Darryl gets up and storms inside.
INT. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - EVENING
The bedroom door is cracked open. Darryl peeks through, watching John and Hank in the hall.
JOHN
You need to apologize to him.
INT. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - EVENING
Darryl lies on his bed. Hank enters.
HANK
Darryl?
(Darryl is silent)
I wanna apologize. I shouldn’t have insulted you, cause I couldn’t have done no better. We cool?
Hank sticks out his hand. Darryl sits up and looks at it for a beat. He shakes.
HANK (cont’d)
Hey, I’ve been working on the Mitchell Group Home handshake. I made this up myself. Like this.
Hank shows Darryl the handshake. They bump the back of their fists, slap hands, bump the top of their fists twice, and form an L shape with their thumb and forefinger on their heart.
HANK (cont’d)
I’m gonna teach Kordell and Brock, too. I just hope no one thinks it’s stupid.
DARRYL
(thumping the L again)
What’s this mean?
HANK
It’s an L on the heart. Means love from the heart.
DARRYL
That’s gay.
HANK
It ain’t gay. Love like brothers, cause that’s what we’re like, living here.
DARRYL
The judge gonna send me home tomorrow. We ain’t gonna be brothers no more.
HANK
Once you here, we’re brothers for life.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
It took me years to understand that Hank needed that. He didn’t have a family like I did. I was his family.
EXT. GROUP HOME - MORNING
Dave and Darryl leave the house for court. Hank, wearing a cap, waits anxiously on the porch.
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
Same scene as before. Judge Clark on the bench. Leo, Darryl, Laquita and Vanessa and their lawyer at the center table. Shanel and her lawyer at another table. Sally at another table with the DHHS attorney. In the seats are Dave, Janet, Rene, Stacey and Tony.
DHHS ATTORNEY
The department is hesitant to give Ms. Marshall custody, seeing that she has made no serious effort at gaining employment.
SHANEL
Yes I have!
JUDGE CLARK
I’m warning you one last time, do not speak in my courtroom unless I give you permission. Understood?
SHANEL
Yes your honor.
Tears fall down Shanel’s face. Darryl sees that Vanessa, too, is crying.
INT. MCDONALD’S - DAY
Dave and Darryl sit in a booth, eating burgers and fries. Tears dry on Darryl’s face.
DAVE
You want some ice cream?
Darryl shakes his head.
DAVE (cont’d)
How about a movie? You wanna see something?
Darryl shakes his head.
DAVE (cont’d)
How about we go to the video store and rent one. Your choice.
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - DAY
Shanel opens the door. DRUG DEALER #3 stands outside, flashing a bag of cocaine.
INT. COMMUNITY CENTER - DAY
Shanel sits among other Narcotics Anonymous MEMBERS.
SHANEL
Drugs have ruined my life. My kids have been taken away. I can’t find work. I can’t sleep. And all I want to do is get high to forget about these troubles.
INT. GROUP HOME - EVENING
As Darryl and Dave enter the house, Darryl heads straight to his room. Eddie, Kordell, Brock and Hank sit on the sofa, watching TV.
DAVE
Hank, you’re back already?
HANK
(calmly, maturely)
No, never went. My cousin ain’t show. He didn’t even call.
INT. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - NIGHT
Darryl is again under the bed. Through the walls, he hears the front door open.
JOHN (O.S.)
Mr. Williams! Let’s talk business.
DAVE (O.S.)
Yeah. Cause I don’t want to quit over this, you know?
JOHN (O.S.)
The bank made a mistake, and I’ll take care of it.
DAVE (O.S.)
They’re charging me for overdrawing my account, for three bounced checks, including my rent.
JOHN (O.S.)
I’ll take care of it. I’ll pay all the fees and get your money.
Kordell is on the top bunk, casually flipping through a comic book.
EXT. GROUP HOME BACKYARD PATIO - DAY
Darryl and Kordell are playing checkers.
KORDELL
You hear Mr. Williams last night?
DARRYL
Yeah.
KORDELL
Sounds like Mr. Mitchell tried to rip him off.
DARRYL
You don’t know.
KORDELL
If he did, and he gets in trouble, that might be good for you. Judge finds out, he might send you home.
Silence. Darryl makes a stop-bullshitting-me face.
KORDELL (cont’d)
You act all down too much. Me, Hank and Brock ain’t got shit to look forward to but signing ourselves out when we turn 18.
DARRYL
Why you think you got it worse than me? At least you go to a good school. At least you’ll be going to college.
KORDELL
Naw, fuck all that.
DARRYL
My mom said that’s important. But she don’t got no money for college. So if I go home, I won’t be in the system no more, and they won’t pay for it.
KORDELL
At least you got a home. Maybe one day you’ll learn what’s important.
DARRYL
Fuck you.
KORDELL
No, fuck you, Darryl. You got a lot to learn and you ain’t hearing me.
Darryl sweeps the checkerboard off the table and goes inside.
INT. GROUP HOME OFFICE - DAY
John sits at his desk. Brock, Kordell, Darryl and Hank are in the room.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
The next day, Mr. Mitchell had an announcement to make.
JOHN
I run three group homes, all of which are in Laurel. For various reasons, I’m gonna have to move them all to D.C. That means we’ll be moving into a new house at the end of the month.
Brock doesn’t look interested, Kordell nods, and Hank and Darryl appear shocked.
HANK
Can we come back up here and play basketball?
BROCK
Man, you stupid. They’ll have courts down there.
JOHN
(to Brock)
Don’t call him stupid.
HANK
Oh.
DARRYL
What about karate?
JOHN
It’s possible you won’t be able to attend anymore. But the good news is, you’ll be closer to your family.
EXT. GROUP HOME BACKYARD - DAY
Eddie, Kordell, Hank, Brock and Darryl drink water out of plastic cups. Eddie hands out water balloons.
EDDIE
Just keep filling them up with piss, and mix it with water if it ain’t enough.
Hank starts laughing and high-fives Kordell.
EXT. GROUP HOME - DAY
MOVERS carry furniture from the house. Eddie, Kordell, Hank, Brock and Darryl walk down the street, laughing, holding the piss balloons. Eddie’s car is parked by the house.
EXT. BASKETBALL COURT - DAY
Brian, Greg and Ray are playing basketball. A balloon suddenly hits Ray in the side of the face.
RAY
What the fuck?
Eddie, Kordell, Hank, Brock and Darryl come from behind a bush, throwing the piss balloons.
Ray, Greg and Brian shield themselves as they get pelted.
RAY (cont’d)
I’m gonna kick the shit out of you!
Ray approaches them even as he’s getting hit. Eddie aims a Super Soaker and starts firing. Then Ray retreats with the others.
RAY
I’m gonna get my dad’s shotgun!
Brock, Kordell, Darryl and Hank are in hysterics.
BROCK
Man, we punked those motherfuckers!
EDDIE
No cursing!
EXT. GROUP HOME - DAY
Everyone runs to the car and gets in. Eddie drives them away.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
I think that was the only time I liked Eddie.
EXT. D.C. GROUP HOME - DAY
The house is a wreck. Peeling paint. Broken gutters. A screen door with a tear in it. Brock, Kordell, Darryl and Hank stand there in disbelief. Eddie gets out of the car. The movers carry furniture inside.
BROCK
Man, fuck this.
EDDIE
Come on, get your stuff and get inside.
HANK
Why we gotta live here?
EDDIE
Cause Mr. Mitchell said, you hear?
KORDELL
I’m calling my social worker about this.
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
There’s a poster on the wall of a black male wearing a karate uniform and a brown belt. It reads “In Loving Memory of Jason ‘J.J.’ Johnson, 1983-1997.”
Darryl and other STUDENTS move up and down the floor, kicking.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
It turned out that there was a studio a couple miles from the group home, and Mr. Williams knew everyone there. Southeast Washington was a lot different than Laurel.
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
The STUDENTS - mostly black - have nicknames stitched into their uniforms on the left lapel, including “Slim Nick,” “Dough Boy,” and “Ducky.” They stand in line at attention. The instructor, MASTER STOKES, has the nickname “Quick Fist.”
MASTER STOKES
Tae kwon do won’t beat a bullet. Is that clear?
STUDENTS
Yes Master Stokes!
MASTER STOKES
But you won’t win with a gun, either. Is that clear?
STUDENTS
Yes Master Stokes!
MASTER STOKES
We’ve lost two members to gun violence in the past three years, and that’s two too many. Don’t mess with guns, and don’t mess with anyone who has a gun. It’s not worth it! Is that clear?
STUDENTS
Yes Master Stokes!
Darryl’s nickname reads, “Darryl.”
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Darryl, in sparring gear, faces off against a boy nicknamed “SPIKE,” who is wearing a yellow belt.
SPIKE
You need to get out of my neighborhood, slim.
The REFEREE signals for the bout to begin. Darryl quickly kicks Spike.
REFEREE
(pointing at Darryl)
Point!
INT. SCHOOL - DAY
Darryl sits in class.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Even though we moved, I had to stay at the same school.
A fight between Vaughn and Jack breaks out behind him. The teacher hurries over to intervene. Darryl doesn’t even turn to watch.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - NIGHT
It’s dark. Darryl is in bed. He shivers as he hears gunshots outside.
KORDELL (O.S.)
Someone got smoked.
Kordell is in the bed above.
BROCK (O.S.)
How you know? Just cause they’re shooting don’t mean no one got hit.
Brock is in a bed in the same room.
HANK (O.S.)
Shut up, I’m trying to sleep.
Hank is in the bed above Brock.
KORDELL
Go ahead, oaf. You ain’t gonna be sleeping when they out there shootin’.
BROCK
I hate living in this fucking place. We don’t even get separate rooms. Man, fuck this. My cousin lives near here. I’m gonna go find him.
KORDELL
Good. Bust on outta here.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Darryl is on the phone. Kordell and Hank watch cartoons.
DARRYL
Hi Mom.
SHANEL (O.S.)
(filtered)
Bring your good clothes tomorrow cause we’re going to church.
DARRYL
I don’t got no good clothes.
SHANEL (O.S.)
(filtered)
I know you got good clothes cause I bought them for you. I want you to wear them, please.
DARRYL
Dang. Fine. Who gonna be there?
SHANEL (O.S.)
(filtered)
Everybody.
Eddie enters from the kitchen.
EDDIE
Lunch is ready.
Kordell and Hank head toward the kitchen.
EDDIE (cont’d)
Brock!
DARRYL
Quit yellin’, I’m on the phone.
HANK
He in the bedroom.
INT. GROUP HOME HALLWAY - DAY
Eddie approaches the bedroom and knocks on the door.
EDDIE
Brock!
Eddie opens the door. No one’s inside. The window is open.
EXT. D.C. GROUP HOME - EVENING
John and Eddie sit on the porch. Darryl, Kordell and Hank watch from the window as a police car pulls up and two OFFICERS gets out. One officer opens the back door and Brock exits. Brock spits on the ground.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - EVENING
Hank, Kordell and Darryl look out the window.
KORDELL
Brock’s brother once ran away from a foster home, too.
DARRYL
They find him?
KORDELL
Yeah. Stole a car, crashed it, killed himself.
EXT. D.C. GROUP HOME - EVENING
John walks up to Brock and the officers.
JOHN
(to Brock)
Go inside.
OFFICER #1
He was caught stealing from a 7-11.
Brock heads toward the porch.
EDDIE
I ain’t gonna let you pull that shit no more. Go to your room.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - EVENING
As Brock walks by, Kordell pats him on the back.
KORDELL
I didn’t think you’d really do it, dawg. Where’d you go?
INT. DAVE’S CAR - MORNING
Dave drives. Darryl, wearing a pair of slacks, a white shirt and a tie, sits in the front seat.
DAVE
I’ve got a surprise for you.
DARRYL
What?
DAVE
You’ll see in a minute.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL HOME - MORNING
Dave parks the car. The front door to the house opens. FOSTER FATHER #2 accompanies Vanessa outside. Darryl smiles. Vanessa, however, is not smiling as she walks to the car.
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - MORNING
Shanel opens the door, seeing Vanessa, Darryl and Dave.
SHANEL
Hey! Come here, gimme a hug.
Shanel hugs Darryl and Vanessa.
SHANEL (cont’d)
I miss you so much!
DAVE
How’ve you been, Ms. Marshall?
SHANEL
(shrugging)
Trying to survive. You know?
RENE (O.S.)
Darryl!
Darryl and Vanessa go inside.
DAVE
You got a job yet?
SHANEL
Still interviewing.
DAVE
Well, that’s good. You’ll find something.
SHANEL
There aren’t too many people who want to hire an ex-addict and con.
DAVE
Keep trying. Do it for the kids. Darryl’s behavior has been improving lately.
DARRYL (O.S.)
My nuts!
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - MORNING
Darryl is on the floor with his legs stretched to either side. Rene and Stacey kneel between him, holding each of his legs in place and pulling on his arms.
RENE
We ain’t gonna help you stretch no more if you keep cryin’.
Rene lets up.
DARRYL
All right, all right. Keep pulling.
INT. SHANEL’S ApARTMENT - MORNING
Laquita, Darryl, Stacey, Rene, Vanessa and Stacey sit at the kitchen table, drinking juice. Laquita avoids eye contact with everyone. She’s put on weight.
DARRYL
Why ain’t Leo here?
STACEY
He in jail.
DARRYL
Jail? What he do?
STACEY
Who knows?
DARRYL
Laquita, what he do?
Laquita shrugs.
DARRYL (cont’d)
What’s the matter with you? Why ain’t you talking?
LAQUITA
(softly)
Ain’t none of your concern why I ain’t talking.
DARRYL
Maybe if you use your mouth for talking again instead of eating, you won’t be getting so fat.
Laquita gives him a cold stare, then walks out of the room.
STACEY
Darryl!
RENE
She’s pregnant.
INT. CHURCH - MORNING
Darryl, Vanessa, Stacey, Rene, Laquita and Shanel stand with the CONGREGATION. The CHOIR sings. Rene, Stacey, Darryl and Shanel join in, but Vanessa and Laquita are quiet. Darryl puts his arm around Vanessa.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL HOME - EVENING
Dave stops the car outside Vanessa’s foster home and lets her out. Foster father #2 approaches from the house.
FOSTER FATHER #2
Thanks, Mr. Williams.
DAVE
No problem.
The foster father puts his hand on Vanessa’s back and leads her up the walkway.
DAVE
Did you have fun today?
Darryl stares uncomfortably at the foster father’s hand on Vanessa.
DAVE (cont’d)
Darryl?
Darryl continues watching the foster father’s hand. Vanessa turns her head and spits on the ground.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And that’s when Vanessa suddenly reminded me of Brock, of all people.
They get to the door and the foster father removes his hand.
DARRYL
Huh?
DAVE
I asked if you had fun today.
DARRYL
(watching his sister go inside)
Uh, yeah.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
The kids sit around the TV. Eddie sticks a tape in the VCR.
EDDIE
Anyone ask what we watching tonight, you tell them “The Lion King.”
The opening scene to “Pulp Fiction” begins.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
“Pulp Fiction” was the first R-rated film I saw.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
The scene in “Pulp Fiction” plays where Marcelles Wallace is getting raped. Hank, Kordell and Brock look away uncomfortably. Darryl watches in disbelief.
DARRYL
Ewww, young.
EDDIE
Wallace gettin’ bitched, yo!
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME HALLWAY - DAY
The hallway is empty. The bedroom door swings open. Brock steps out of the room.
BROCK
You a faggot! You a goddam faggot! Trying to touch my dick!
Hank sticks his head out of the room.
HANK
No I didn’t!
Tina walks down the hall.
TINA
Brock, what happened?
BROCK
He trying to touch my dick! Faggot!
Hank steps out of the bedroom as Brock walks toward the living room.
HANK
No I didn’t.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Darryl and Kordell sit on the sofa, watching TV, when Brock comes in and picks up the phone. Hank watches from the corner.
BROCK
(dialing)
I’m calling my social worker. I ain’t living with this faggot.
TINA
Brock, wait for Mr. Mitchell. He’ll be here soon.
BROCK
No, I’m calling.
TINA
(to Darryl and Kordell)
Get in your room.
KORDELL
Why? We ain’t do nothing.
TINA
I said get in your room until Mr. Mitchell comes.
Darryl and Kordell walk to the bedroom.
KORDELL
(to Hank)
He’s lying, right?
HANK
Of course he is! Damn!
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME OFFICE - DAY
John sits at his desk. Hank, Darryl and Kordell sit in front of him. The binders, including Brock’s, are on the shelf behind him.
JOHN
Brock Johnson will no longer be a client of Mitchell Group Homes. I want to make clear that this is not the fault of anyone in this room. Now, if you have any concerns, please come to me in private, and I’ll address them.
Darryl stares at Brock’s binder.
EXT. D.C. GROUP HOME - DAY
Dave and Brock carry bags to the car. Brock’s SOCIAL WORKER is there. Kordell and Darryl sit on the porch. Hank walks out of the house with a basketball.
HANK
Mr. Williams said he’ll take us to the court. You wanna come?
KORDELL
Yeah.
HANK
Darryl?
DARRYL
Naw.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME OFFICE - DAY
John sits at his desk, looking over papers. Darryl enters.
JOHN
Hey Darryl.
DARRYL
Mr. Mitchell, can I ask you a question?
JOHN
Of course. Take a seat.
DARRYL
Was Brock kicked out of here cause of Hank?
JOHN
No.
DARRYL
Then why he lie?
JOHN
I don’t know if he was lying or not. Is there something you want to tell me? Because if there is, please don’t hesitate. This is confidential.
Darryl shakes his head.
JOHN (cont’d)
Has someone been touching you? Mr. Williams?
DARRYL
No.
JOHN
Darryl, adults, and even children, sometimes take advantage of other people. Sexually. The victims might not say anything because they’re embarrassed, and the perpetrator will get away with it. But false accusations are tossed around for different reasons, usually to get attention. I can’t let you know what’s wrong with Brock, but I can tell you that you must speak up if something bad is happening that you know about.
Darryl stares at Brock’s binder on the shelf.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - NIGHT
Darryl, Hank and Kordell are in their beds.
DARRYL
Hey, tomorrow, after school, I wanna break into Mr. Mitchell’s office. I’ll need your help.
KORDELL
Why you wanna do that?
DARRYL
Look at what’s in my binder.
KORDELL
(laughing)
You wanna risk getting in trouble for that?
DARRYL
Yeah. They be writing stuff in there about me. They don’t ever let me see it. I wanna see it.
KORDELL
So, what you want us to do?
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Eddie is watching TV.
KORDELL (O.S.)
Get off me! Damn! Get your ass off me!
Eddie heads to the bedroom.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - DAY
Hank pins Kordell to the floor.
EDDIE
Get off him!
Eddie tackles Hank, knocking him off of Kordell. Hank struggles but Eddie overpowers him.
HANK
You’re hurting my neck!
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME HALLWAY - DAY
Darryl shoves cardboard between the door to the office, between the lock, and pulls it open.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME OFFICE - DAY
Darryl sees the binders.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
I was dying to look at my own binder, but there wasn’t time.
He grabs the binder marked “Brock.” He sees a wad of folded money behind it. Hundred dollar bills. He takes a bill and puts it into his pocket. Then he thinks better of it and puts it back.
He flips through the binder. Lines on the paper read, “...sexually abused and beaten for two years by his uncle...”
Eddie sticks his head in.
EDDIE
Darryl!
DARRYL
Shit.
EDDIE
Get your ass out of there now! Get in your room! Now!
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - DAY
Darryl is under his bed. He can overhear Dave, Eddie and John in the adjoining room.
EDDIE (O.S.)
I think you should stop taking him to karate class.
DAVE (O.S.)
No, you want to punish him, you take away TV privileges.
EDDIE (O.S.)
That boy breaks into the office and goes through someone else’s business...
JOHN (O.S.)
I agree with Dave. Darryl will be punished, but karate stays.
Kordell lies on the top bunk, reading a comic book. Hank sits on his bed, holding an ice pack to his neck.
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
In karate class, STUDENT #1 and STUDENT #2 hold a pine board. Darryl stares carefully at it. Then, with furious power, he screams and punches it.
The board doesn’t break, and Darryl pulls back his hand in pain.
MASTER STOKES
You okay?
DARRYL
(cringing)
My hand hurts.
MASTER STOKES
“Chah ryut!”
Darryl stands at attention.
MASTER STOKES (cont’d)
Do you feel pain?
DARRYL
No Master Stokes!
MASTER STOKES
“Kyung neh.”
Darryl bows out.
MASTER STOKES (cont’d)
(turning)
Rick, step on up here.
Darryl grabs his fist and cringes in pain.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME PORCH - EVENING
Kordell sits on the bench. Darryl comes out and sits with him.
DARRYL
I was looking through Brock’s binder. Saw some messed-up stuff in there.
Kordell is silent.
DARRYL (cont’d)
It said he was sexually abused. By his uncle.
KORDELL
So?
DARRYL
So, that’s fucked up. I didn’t know that’s why he so mad. And then he goes blaming Hank just to get out of here.
KORDELL
Are you stupid?
DARRYL
What?
KORDELL
Man, you don’t know shit about nothing, Darryl.
Darryl looks at Kordell, shocked.
KORDELL (cont’d)
You come out here, telling me he was sexually abused. Why you think kids get taken from their parents? What you think happens to half the kids in this system, in foster care? You think it’s just cause of drugs?
Silence.
KORDELL (cont’d)
But I’m glad you looked in there, so now you know. Now you know other people got a more fucked up life than you, okay?
Kordell gets up.
KORDELL (cont’d)
You said you were gonna look through your binder, not his. I’m just glad you didn’t look through mine.
Kordell slams the door as he goes inside.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
Darryl talks on the phone.
DARRYL
Sally, Vanessa needs to get out of that house!
SALLY (O.S.)
(filtered)
What’s the problem?
DARRYL
Her foster father been touching her! Get her out of there!
SALLY (O.S.)
(filtered)
Did she tell you that?
DARRYL
No.
SALLY (O.S.)
(filtered)
Then why do you think that?
DARRYL
Cause, I see the way he acts around her.
SALLY (O.S.)
(filtered)
Darryl, I’ve got a case-load of 50, four in your family alone. I don’t have time to move people around just because you suspect something.
DARRYL
Damn, Sally! Her foster father messing with her! I know it!
SALLY (O.S.)
(filtered)
I’ll talk to Vanessa.
Dave, who is standing with his back against the wall in an adjoining room, eavesdrops on Darryl.
INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
As the teacher lectures, Darryl’s head hangs low.
TEACHER
Darryl?
DARRYL
Huh?
TEACHER
Do you have something on your mind other than Medieval Europe?
DARRYL
No.
TEACHER
Then please repeat what I just said.
Darryl gets up and walks out of class.
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Darryl, wearing his karate uniform, focuses on a pine board, held by the same two students as before. He screams, this time kicking through it.
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Darryl, standing at attention, screams before beginning a choreographed set of motions. Master Stokes, Dave, and two other JUDGES observe. Darryl finishes strongly with a scream.
MASTER STOKES
Darryl, what happened?
DARRYL
Sir?
MASTER STOKES
You did Peinan 2. I asked you to do Peinan 1.
DARRYL
Oh!
MASTER STOKES
You did it very well, though. Now, if you can do Peinan 1, you’ll pass. I don’t want to hold you back for the tournament.
Darryl stands at attention. He screams and begins Peinan 1.
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
It’s the promotion ceremony. Darryl stands at attention in front of the judges. He removes his white belt. Master Stokes ties a yellow belt around Darryl’s waist. Everyone applauds, especially Dave.
MASTER STOKES
(shaking Darryl’s hand)
Congratulations.
EXT. D.C. GROUP HOME - EVENING
Dave pulls the car up to the group home. Two police cars are parked out front. Two OFFICERS lead John away in handcuffs, while two other OFFICERS are nearby. Tina, Kordell and Hank watch from the porch. Darryl and Dave exit the car.
JOHN
(to Dave)
I’m gonna meet with my lawyer and get this straightened out. Bring the kids to school tomorrow. Eddie will be back at three.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME OFFICE - EVENING
Dave sits at John’s desk. Hank, Darryl and Kordell are in the room.
DAVE
Mr. Mitchell will be back, but I don’t know for how long.
KORDELL
So what happens to us?
DAVE
I’m not gonna lie - you may be living somewhere else soon.
Kordell and Hank nod. Darryl just stares into space.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - EVENING
Darryl goes into the bedroom. He closes the door and leans against it. He takes a deep breath. Suddenly, he screams, throws shoes, and cracks the window with a side kick. He collapses onto the bed.
Dave enters and immediately comforts Darryl.
DAVE
Darryl... Darryl... Easy, now.
Dave holds Darryl for a moment.
DAVE (cont’d)
I grew up like this, too. I was in the system.
Darryl slowly turns and looks at Dave.
DAVE (cont’d)
I know what this is like.
Another moment passes.
DAVE (cont’d)
Just want you to know, I’m proud of you. I see the way you treat your little sister, and you’re doing great in karate. I just want you to pull up your grades in school. That’s the only thing you need to work on. You’ll be going home soon, I know it. You won’t have to put up with this no more.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Dave sits on the sofa, going through papers on the coffee table and talking on the phone. Darryl walks in, wearing pajamas, but Dave doesn’t look up.
DAVE
I don’t know nothing about John’s finances. Any of those guys could’ve said something. ... Man, look. You need to be here tomorrow after school, okay? I’ll drop them off, and bring them home... Let me know if he calls.
Dave hangs up the phone.
DAVE (cont’d)
Shit!
Darryl turns and walks back to his room without Dave noticing.
INT. DAVE’s CAR - MORNING
Dave pulls up outside the school. Hank and Darryl sit in the backseat.
DAVE
Here’s money for the bus tickets home. You know what to do, right?
Darryl nods as Dave hands the money to him.
DAVE (cont’d)
Okay, have a good day at school. I want to hear good things from your teachers, okay?
Dave winks at Darryl. Darryl nods and gets out of the car with Hank. Dave watches them glumly as they walk toward the school.
INT. CAFETERIA - DAY
The STUDENTS eat lunch. Darryl and Hank sit together.
HANK
Here comes that boy who was beefing with me.
BRENT, a hulking bully, approaches.
BRENT
(to Hank)
Why were you laughing at me in class?
HANK
I wasn’t laughing at you.
DARRYL
Step away, all right? Don’t be starting nothing.
BRENT
You stay out of this before I got a problem with you, too.
DARRYL
(standing)
You need to step away.
As students turn to observe the confrontation, a SECURITY GUARD also notices and hurries over.
Brent shoves Darryl on the shoulder.
DARRYL (cont’d)
(standing his ground)
Don’t touch me again.
Brent shoves Darryl again.
BRENT
What you gonna do about it?
The security guard grabs Brent.
SECURITY GUARD
Break it up.
The security guard escorts Brent away. Darryl sits and finishes eating.
HANK
Why didn’t you deck that boy? You could’ve taken him.
DARRYL
Naw, he wasn’t worth it.
INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
The teacher passes out test results. Darryl’s paper says “B+.”
TEACHER
Very good, Darryl. Much improved.
EXT. CITY STREET - BUS STOP - DAY
A bus pulls up. Hank and Darryl get off.
EXT. CITY STREET - DAY
Hank and Darryl walk down the street. They walk by a HOMELESS MAN, who sits on the curb.
EXT. D.C. GROUP HOME PORCH - DAY
Kordell sits on the porch as Hank and Darryl approach.
KORDELL
No one’s here.
HANK
Eddie’s supposed to be.
KORDELL
I know. He ain’t here. Ain’t the first time they mixed up their schedules.
EXT. D.C. GROUP HOME PORCH - TWO HOURS LATER - DAY
Hank, Darryl and Kordell sit on the porch. Darryl flips through a text book.
EXT. D.C. GROUP HOME PORCH - ONE HOUR LATER - DAY
Hank is lying down with his hands behind his head. Darryl reads his text book. Kordell steps up with a crowbar.
KORDELL
Found one.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - DAY
The lock on the front door is broken. String is tied from the knob to a post to hold it shut. Hank, Kordell and Darryl watch TV.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - EVENING
Hank, Kordell and Darryl continue watching TV. Suddenly, the power goes out. Daylight still shines through the windows.
HANK
Awe, damn!
Hank goes to the window.
HANK (cont’d)
It ain’t even raining.
KORDELL
It ain’t the weather. They cut the power.
Kordell picks up the phone. He dials.
KORDELL (cont’d)
Damn.
He resets it, then dials again.
KORDELL (cont’d)
It ain’t working.
HANK
Let’s go to the neighbors.
KORDELL
The crack house next door? Naw, man, we need money for a phone call. You got any?
HANK
No.
DARRYL
Come with me.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME OFFICE - EVENING
Darryl leads Hank and Kordell into John’s office. Their binders are on the shelf, including Brock’s. Kordell grabs his binder, sits, and flips through it. Darryl frantically shuffles stuff around.
DARRYL
Damn! It ain’t here no more.
HANK
What was there?
DARRYL
Money. A whole wad of it. It was back here before.
HANK
Maybe it got stuck.
Hank helps Darryl for a moment as Kordell continues flipping through his binder.
KORDELL
(mumbling)
This is...
HANK
Huh?
KORDELL
(mumbling)
...bullshit.
HANK
What you talking about?
Kordell throws the binder across the room. The papers come loose and scatter.
KORDELL
This is bullshit! Fuck this!
He picks up the papers and starts tearing them. Then he stops and falls onto the floor, crying.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME KITCHEN - EVENING
Hank and Darryl peer into the refrigerator. A half-gallon of milk, orange juice and a half loaf of bread. Hank closes it and opens the freezer. Frozen hamburgers and ice.
DARRYL
We need to eat this before it spoils.
EXT. D.C. GROUP HOME BACK PORCH - EVENING
Darryl puts charcoal into the grill and strikes a match.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - EVENING
Paper is torn to shreds all around Hank and Kordell. In unison, they take another from their binders, tear them in half, tear those pieces, tear them again, and toss them in the air.
HANK AND KORDELL
(as the paper hovers like confetti)
Woo!
KORDELL
Yo Darryl! You wanna do yours?
Darryl enters, seeing the paper. Hank takes another.
HANK
Awe, paper cut!
EXT. D.C. GROUP HOME BACK PORCH - EVENING
Charcoal burns in the grill. Darryl flips burgers with a spatula.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME KITCHEN - EVENING
Darryl, Kordell and Hank eat burgers and drink milk.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - NIGHT
It’s dark for a split second before Darryl strikes a match and lights a candle. The boys are wearing pajamas. Darryl pulls the blanket from his bed and sees a piece of paper.
DARRYL
What the...
Darryl brings the note to the candlelight. Hank and Kordell join him.
DARRYL (cont’d)
It’s from Mr. Williams.
The boys stare at the paper.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Mr. Williams wrote that he was forced to quit Mitchell Group Homes that day, and that he was sorry he couldn’t say goodbye. It was signed, Dave.
Darryl crumbles up the paper and hurls it at the wall.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - NIGHT
The boys are in bed. Darryl sniffs and whimpers.
KORDELL
Darryl?
DARRYL
Yo?
KORDELL
Man, don’t even sweat it. Mr. Williams did what he had to do, you know? That just means John is guilty, and Mr. Williams didn’t want to be dragged down with him.
DARRYL
I know.
Gunshots fire in the distance. Hank pulls the covers over his head. Kordell clutches the crowbar. Darryl takes long, steady breaths.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME BEDROOM - 2 HOURS LATER - NIGHT
The candle is nearly extinguished, but the street lamp outside gives the room some light through the window. The boys wake to the sound of the front door opening. Footsteps.
The bedroom door swings open. The boys scream.
EDDIE
Where’s Dave?
Eddie enters. Kordell, Hank and Darryl sit up. Darryl sees a flash of silver - a gun - tucked in Eddie’s pants.
KORDELL
We ain’t seen him since this morning.
Two THUGS stand in the hallway behind Eddie.
HANK
Where’s Mr. Mitchell?
EDDIE
Mind your business!
Eddie turns to go. Kordell gets up and rushes to the door.
KORDELL
Wait!
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME HALLWAY - NIGHT
Eddie and the two other men turn toward Kordell.
KORDELL
You gonna leave us here alone?
EDDIE
Call your social workers. They was supposed to pick you up after school.
KORDELL
The phone don’t work!
Eddie hesitates, then flips a quarter to Kordell, who catches it.
EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
Hank, Kordell and Darryl exit the group home, wearing their pajamas and shoes. Kordell holds the crowbar. Hank holds a kitchen knife. They walk down the street.
HANK
Why can’t we wait til morning?
KORDELL
Cause, now we know they ain’t coming back for us. Someone gotta know about this now.
HANK
Darryl, don’t you think we should wait til morning?
DARRYL
Naw. We should’ve done this sooner.
They arrive at the pay phone. Kordell hands the crowbar to Darryl, grabs the phone and sticks in the quarter. He pulls out a piece of paper and looks at it.
KORDELL
(to Hank)
Hey, read this to me.
Hank takes the paper and walks toward the street lamp. Suddenly, a hand reaches over Kordell and cancels the call. The boys turn and scream as the quarter falls out.
Darryl swings the crowbar but the CROOK blocks it, punches Darryl in the face, pushes Kordell away, grabs the quarter from the coin return and runs.
INT. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
A lit candle rests on the coffee table. Darryl sits on the sofa, holding a cloth to his eye. Hank and Kordell stand beside him.
HANK
You all never listen to me.
KORDELL
Hank, not now. Darryl, you gonna be okay. You can take a punch, right? You tough.
DARRYL
No pain.
KORDELL
We’ll take care of this in the morning, okay? We’ll figure something out.
Darryl and Kordell do Hank’s handshake, ending with the L to the heart. Hank smiles.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME KITCHEN - MORNING
Darryl, with a bandage on his brow, serves more hamburgers. Hank and Kordell sit at the table, drinking orange juice.
There’s a knock on the door.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME LIVING ROOM - MORNING
Kordell opens the door. It’s Sally. She enters, seeing the mess of papers on the floor. Darryl and Hank round the corner.
SALLY
Oh my...
INT. POLICE STATION - DAY
Hank, Kordell and Darryl sit in a small room with two OFFICERS.
OFFICER #2
So he gave you a quarter, then he left with two other guys?
Kordell nods.
INT. POLICE STATION - DAY
Darryl sits on a bench with Sally. He is silent and avoids eye contact with her.
SALLY (cont’d)
I found a place for you to live temporarily. But I’ll take you back to the house first to get your stuff...
DARRYL
What about Vanessa?
SALLY
I spoke with her yesterday. She insists nothing is happening between her and her foster father.
This gets Darryl’s attention, and now he looks straight at her.
DARRYL
Then she’s lying.
SALLY
You may very well be right. So here’s the good news. Your aunt has agreed to take her.
Darryl stands.
DARRYL
No, she needs to go somewhere else. Not there.
SALLY
Why not?
DARRYL
Because, Janet treats us like shit! Why ain’t you notice yet?
SALLY
Well... Where do you think Vanessa should go?
Darryl starts pacing.
DARRYL
How about with Rene and Stacey?
SALLY
Your cousins?
DARRYL
No, my sisters!
SALLY
Oh, right. They live with their father. He has nothing to do with Vanessa.
DARRYL
Then let me live with her again.
SALLY
I would have to find a therapeutic foster home that would accept both of you, and there aren’t any co-ed ones available around here.
DARRYL
Then let us go back home! Damn!
Darryl abruptly sits, grabbing his head.
SALLY
You know the judge has to make that decision.
INT. D.C. GROUP HOME PORCH - DAY
Darryl and Hank sit on the porch with their packed bags. Sally and two other SOCIAL WORKERS stand by their cars. Kordell exits.
HANK
All right, Kordell. Nice living with you.
Hank and Kordell do the group home handshake.
HANK (cont’d)
Darryl, I’ll see you at school.
Darryl and Hank do the same handshake, ending with the L. Then Hank picks up his bag and heads for the car.
DARRYL
You think he’ll be all right?
KORDELL
Hank handles it better than any of us.
Hank and his social worker get in the car and drive away. Hank flashes the L sign through the back window.
KORDELL (cont’d)
You know where you’re living next?
DARRYL
No. You?
KORDELL
Don’t matter. I won’t be there long, anyway, before I go somewhere else.
DARRYL
You gonna go to college, right? It’s a free ride for you. Don’t gotta worry about no bills.
KORDELL
Naw. When I turn 18, I’m through with the system. Then, you know, I can get a job, and maybe start a real family of my own.
Darryl nods glumly. Kordell picks up his bag and steps off the porch.
DARRYL
Kordell.
Kordell turns.
DARRYL (cont’d)
When that happens, don’t forget about me.
Kordell puts down his bag. He walks back up the porch. They do the handshake, thumping the L sign on their hearts. Kordell grabs his bag and walks toward the car. Sally approaches Darryl on the porch.
SALLY
Darryl, you ready?
Darryl and Kordell exchange one last look - and nod - before Kordell gets into the car with his social worker.
DARRYL
Yeah.
INT. FOSTER CARE HOME - DINING ROOM - EVENING
Six KIDS, boys and girls, ages 5 to 11, sit at the table, set for dinner. Darryl enters with a platter of chicken. As he places it down, the children grab for it.
DARRYL
Hey, one at a time! Youngest first.
INT. FOSTER CARE HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Darryl paces the room while on the phone.
DARRYL
Why you crying?
VANESSA (O.S.)
(filtered)
I ain’t crying.
DARRYL
I hear you. Why you crying?
VANESSA (O.S.)
(filtered)
Cause.
DARRYL
Cause why?
VANESSA (O.S.)
(filtered)
Aunt Janet.
DARRYL
What she do? ... What she do to you?
VANESSA (O.S.)
(filtered)
She mad cause she say Leo stole her necklace but she ain’t stop yelling since I got here.
DARRYL
Put her on the phone.
VANESSA (O.S.)
(filtered)
Hold up, she coming. I can’t talk no more.
JANET (O.S.)
(filtered)
I said you on restriction! Who you talking to?
There’s a click on the phone.
DARRYL
Hello? ... Hello? ... Damn!
He lifts his arm, ready to spike the phone, but holds back when he sees two of the younger foster kids staring at him from the hallway.
DARRYL (cont’d)
Go on, mind your business!
The kids hurry away.
INT. OFFICE - DAY
Shanel sits in front of an INTERVIEWER.
INTERVIEWER
We’ll be happy to hire you. But, we’ll only have temporary jobs available when your skills are in demand.
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - MORNING
Darryl, wearing his white shirt and slacks, sits on the sofa with Shanel.
SHANEL
I hear you’re doing good at the new foster home. ... Also hear you’re doing better in school.
There’s a beat of silence as Shanel wipes away tears.
SHANEL (cont’d)
Darryl, I want to apologize for my drug addictions. It’s harmed you, and your brother and sisters. I just want you to know that I love you and I’ll do everything I can for you.
She hugs him.
DARRYL
Mom?
SHANEL
Yeah baby?
DARRYL
Vanessa needs to move back with you.
SHANEL
I’m trying, baby, I’m trying. But I get to see her more when she’s with your aunt.
Darryl escapes from the hug.
DARRYL
Then tell Janet to treat her better!
Shanel is silent, and sadness crosses her face. Stacey walks in from the kitchen.
STACEY
Mom, you got any salt and pepper?
SHANEL
Yeah, there’s some in the cabinet above the toaster. How are the eggs coming?
STACEY
Good.
Stacey walks back into the kitchen.
DARRYL
Mom, can you bring me to a karate tournament Tuesday?
SHANEL
You got a tournament?
DARRYL
Yeah.
SHANEL
What time?
DARRYL
I need to be there at five, but I don’t got no ride.
Shanel looks conflicted. Then the phone rings. She picks it up.
SHANEL
Just a second, baby.
(on the phone)
Hello? ... Laquita honey, where are you? ... You don’t need to be at that boy’s house. You need to be telling that other boy about the child support he’ll have to pay. ... I want you to come to church with us.
STACEY
(sticking her head in the room)
Breakfast is ready.
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - MORNING
Darryl sits at the table with Stacey and Rene. Darryl picks at his eggs.
RENE
(to Darryl)
Why aren’t you eating? What’s wrong?
DARRYL
Nothing.
SHANEL
(on the phone)
He don’t have a choice. Just cause he dumped you don’t mean he don’t have to take care of his child.
There’s a knock on the door. Darryl takes a deep breath, gets up, and goes to the door.
He opens the door. It’s Janet and Vanessa.
JANET
(to Vanessa)
You been living with me less than a week and already you giving me an attitude.
Vanessa rushes inside. Darryl stares coldly at Janet, blocking her entrance.
JANET (cont’d)
What you looking at me like that for? Move on out my way.
DARRYL
You need to stop yelling at her.
JANET
Uh-uh. You don’t go around telling me what to do. You watch yourself. Get on out my way.
Janet tries to go around him but he stands his ground.
JANET (cont’d)
Shanel! Your boy is running his mouth.
Shanel approaches and puts her hands on Darryl’s shoulders.
SHANEL
What’s the problem?
JANET
He telling me how to raise your daughter.
SHANEL
Thanks for dropping off Vanessa. You’ll get her at six, right?
JANET
Why you not listening to me? Your boy running his mouth and I’m about to slap him upside his head.
SHANEL
Janet, you know I’m grateful you’ve been there to watch my kids. But don’t you dare ever hit any of them.
JANET
I ain’t gonna watch them much longer the way they’re acting. You better hope that judge sends them home on Tuesday.
Darryl’s head spins toward his mother. Tuesday?
SHANEL
Darryl, go eat breakfast.
Darryl doesn’t move.
SHANEL (cont’d)
(nudging Daryl)
Come on, go.
Darryl heads for the kitchen.
SHANEL (cont’d)
Janet, it’s taken me a long time to realize, maybe they’re acting that way cause of how you treat them. And now that you got Vanessa, I don’t have any doubt that’s the case. She needs me more than ever. And that’s slapped the sobriety into me more than any judge or program ever could.
Janet is speechless.
SHANEL (cont’d)
Now, you’ll pick her up at six, right?
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - DAY
Shanel enters the kitchen. Darryl, Vanessa, Stacey and Rene continue eating breakfast.
SHANEL
Darryl, come here, please.
Darryl joins his mother in the living room.
DARRYL
Why didn’t you tell me?
SHANEL
It’s just a progress hearing.
DARRYL
What’s that?
SHANEL
The judge wants to check up on me, that’s all. But listen, don’t tell nobody, okay? It’s our secret.
Shanel grabs Darryl and gives him a hug.
INT. CHURCH - MORNING
Like before, Darryl, Vanessa, Stacey, Rene and Shanel stand with the congregation. The choir sings. Rene, Stacey, Shanel and Darryl join in, but Vanessa is quiet. Darryl puts his arm around her.
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - DAY
Darryl, Shanel, Stacey, Rene and Vanessa finish up dinner. There’s a knock on the door.
DARRYL
I’ll get it.
Darryl runs to the door and opens it. It’s Stacey and Rene’s father, Tony.
TONY
Hey, Darryl! Long time no see.
Darryl shakes hands firmly with Tony.
TONY (cont’d)
I hear you’ve been doing well. Still going to karate?
DARRYL
I ain’t been since I left the group home. But I’m trying to go to this tournament...
Shanel approaches.
SHANEL
Hey.
(to Darryl)
Go finish your dinner, please.
Darryl walks away. Shanel and Tony stand by the door.
SHANEL
I’ve got a favor to ask.
Tony gives her a disappointed look.
SHANEL (cont’d)
No, Tony, it ain’t money.
INT. TONY’S CAR - DAY
Tony drives. Darryl wears his karate uniform. Rene and Stacey sit in the backseat.
STACEY
Now we gonna see if you’ve been stretching enough.
DARRYL
If mom don’t get us back soon, can me and Vanessa come live with you?
TONY
Why you wanna live with me?
DARRYL
Cause.
RENE
You gonna be fighting little kids, or people your own age?
TONY
Truth is, I can’t take you. Don’t got the resources.
DARRYL
How about just Vanessa?
TONY
I’m really sorry, Darryl, but I can’t do it.
STACEY
I’m gonna laugh if you get your butt kicked by a little kid.
TONY
(to Stacey and Rene)
Cool it, please.
Darryl sighs.
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
The gym, set up for a karate tournament, is filled with KARATE STUDENTS, INSTRUCTORS and REFEREES. Darryl approaches Master Kim and bows.
MASTER KIM
Hi Darryl. Good to see you again. Congratulations on your yellow belt.
DARRYL
Thank you, sir. Have you seen Master Williams?
MASTER KIM
No, I was looking for him. We miss him at the studio.
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
Shanel sits at the middle table with her lawyer. Janet sits behind her. Sally sits at another table with the DHHS attorney. The children’s lawyer is there, but no children.
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Darryl sits on the floor. The soles of his feet are together and he pushes down on his knees with his elbows. He breathes slowly.
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
Shanel breathes slowly.
COURT MARSHALL
All rise for Judge Clark.
Everyone stands as Judge Clark enters.
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Darryl, wearing sparring gear, bows to his OPPONENT. The referee has his hand between them.
REFEREE
Begin!
The referee removes his hand.
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
Shanel addresses the judge.
SHANEL
I have my sobriety, and I have a job. Now I want my children back, please. They need me more than ever.
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Darryl fights his opponent. He kicks him in the chest.
REFEREE
(tapping Darryl)
Point!
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
The judge sits on the stand.
JUDGE CLARK
Where is Mr. Mitchell now?
SHANEL’S LAWYER
In custody. He was caught trying to flee the country with 200 thousand dollars in cash. And there’s a warrant out for his assistant, Edward Brown.
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
The referee holds up Darryl’s hand.
REFEREE
Winner!
Stacey, Rene and Tony cheer loudly from the bleachers. Darryl scans the gym, looking for Dave.
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
The judge addresses Janet.
JUDGE CLARK
(frustrated)
After all that’s happened with those two - which I knew nothing about until today - now you’ve got custody of Vanessa?
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Darryl spars with OPPONENT #2, who lands a kick in Darryl’s stomach.
REFEREE
(tapping the opponent)
Point!
Darryl and his opponent reset. The referee holds his hand between them.
REFEREE (cont’d)
Continue!
Darryl kicks his opponent, a low-blow. The boy doubles over in pain.
DARRYL
Sorry!
REFEREE (cont’d)
Stop.
(to Darryl)
Kneel.
(to the opponent)
Are you all right?
Darryl goes into the corner, facing away from the ring, on his knees with his fists in front of him. Behind him, his opponent catches his breath.
Dave stands by the doorway, wearing a hat pulled over his brow. Darryl sees him. Dave gives him the thumbs-up.
REFEREE (cont’d)
Next point wins.
Darryl stands and gets into position. The referee puts his hand between them and removes it.
REFEREE (cont’d)
Continue!
Darryl’s front kick is blocked, but he follows up with a punch to his opponent’s midsection.
REFEREE (cont’d)
(tapping Darryl)
Point!
(lifting Darryl’s arm)
Winner!
Stacey, Rene and Tony cheer from the stands.
Darryl and Dave walk up to each other and hug.
DARRYL
I’m in the final round!
DAVE
Good.
(pointing to OPPONENT #3)
This next guy has a high kick, but that’s all he does. Get in close, punch, and you’ll beat him.
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
The judge speaks to Shanel.
JUDGE CLARK
In light of these recent circumstances, it seems that sending the children back to live with Ms. Marshall is the best option.
Shanel’s jaw drops.
JUDGE CLARK (cont’d)
(to Shanel)
But let me be perfectly clear. If a single drug test comes up positive, the children will be removed immediately and sent back to foster care. Do you understand?
A tear falls from Shanel’s eye.
SHANEL
Yes sir.
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
The referee stands between Darryl and his opponent. Darryl faces the main entrance to the gym. As he bows, someone catches his eye at the door.
Eddie.
REFEREE
Begin!
Darryl’s head swings over to Dave in the bleachers.
DARRYL
(pointing at Eddie)
Mr. Williams!
Eddie sees Darryl, then Dave, and rushes toward him, reaching under his shirt. Dave steps off the bleachers and gets into a karate stance. Darryl runs over. The crowd stops to observe the confrontation.
DARRYL
Gun! He got a gun! Get outta here! He got a gun!
DAVE
Darryl, stay away!
With this, the crowd frantically disperses. Eddie’s hand remains under his shirt. But he’s nervous, hesitant to draw.
DARRYL
Don’t shoot him!
DAVE
Darryl!
Dave pushes Darryl out of the way but he quickly returns, standing between the two.
DARRYL
Don’t shoot!
In the bleachers, Tony shields Rene and Stacey. The rest of the crowd either flees or takes shelter behind the bleachers.
Darryl continues to struggle, but Dave finally tosses him out of the way.
Eddie’s hand remains under his shirt as he stares at Dave.
DAVE
I didn’t say nothing to the police about John.
EDDIE
(nervously)
Bullshit.
The steel flashes from under his shirt.
DARRYL
Eddie, it ain’t worth it!
Eddie, sweating and shaking, looks at Darryl, then back at Dave, then at Darryl. He mutters something under his breath.
DARRYL (cont’d)
It ain’t worth it, man! It ain’t worth it! You understand?
Eddie stares blankly.
DARRYL (cont’d)
(calmer)
It ain’t worth it. It ain’t worth it.
A moment passes.
DARRYL (cont’d)
It ain’t worth it.
And that’s when Eddie abruptly turns and leaves the gym.
Dave hugs Darryl. Rene, Stacey and Tony rush over to them.
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - DAY
With Sally behind him, Darryl enters the apartment. Vanessa stands in the living room. She sees Darryl, runs up and hugs him.
INT. SHANEL’S APARTMENT - EVENING
Shanel slices a turkey at the dinner table. Darryl, Vanessa, Stacey, Rene, Leo, Laquita and her BABY are there.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Mom isn’t perfect. But she works hard to keep herself clean, and she never stopped loving us.
INT. AUDITORIUM - DAY
It’s a college graduation. KORDELL, 21, wearing a cap and gown, walks to the podium, where the DEAN holds a diploma.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Kordell was finally placed in a home that he liked, then into independent living. When he turned 18, he enrolled in Howard University. He graduated with honors, and then went on to grad school.
DEAN
Kordell Thomas.
The Dean hands Kordell his diploma and shakes his hand. Kordell looks into the crowd and flashes an L over his heart.
Darryl, 21, stands in the CROWD, flashing an L back.
EXT. BASKETBALL COURT - DAY
Darryl plays basketball with three BOYS.
DARRYL
When I turned 18, I enrolled in D.C. Community College, and got a job at a group home...
Dave sits on the sidelines, applauding when a boy makes a shot.
DARRYL (cont’d)
...working for Dave Williams.
INT. D.C. GyMNASIUM - DAY
Dave leads the karate class in warm-ups, with Darryl following along.
END FLASHBACK
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
Darryl, 21, stands by the grave, clearly upset, but not crying.
Chah ryut. He bows to the grave, eyes dropped in respect.
Kyung neh.
BEGIN FLASHBACk
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Dave continues to lead warm-ups in karate class.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Master Williams died at the age of 40. He was hit by a stolen car, driven by a 12-year-old runaway.
INT. D.C. GYMNASIUM - DAY
Darryl, 18, is in karate class, standing with his arms spread and his brown belt on the floor. Dave ties a black belt around Darryl’s waist. Shanel, Vanessa (16), Rene and Stacey (19), applaud as Dave and Darryl give each other a hug.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
But he lived long enough to make a difference for children in need. I pray that I can do the same.
END FLASHBACK
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
Darryl lifts his head after bowing. KORDELL and VANESSA stand by his side. They walk away, Darryl’s arms draped around both of them.
FADE OUT.